Write a near-future thriller where a piece of everyday technology has turned against your character — and only your character.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Jul 27, 2021

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✍️ 130 stories

“The Decision Is Yours” by Sylvia Lucas

Submitted to Contest #82

How does one befriend a Receptionoid ? Or more to the point, how does one make conciliatory gestures to the confounded thing ? I am employed at the law firm of Gambol , Gambit and Gore, one of their thirty six lawyers who slave away for seventy hours a week to make...an admittedly good...salary and try to impress Gambit and Gore, Gambol having departed this earth five years ago. Earlier this year, those of us working on the lower three floors were issued with the latest model receptionist in the form of an android. We were told that our secr...

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“Mary Ellen” by Nakul Smaran Ranjith

Submitted to Contest #82

I slightly tugged at my sheets, bringing the far 2 corners in line with the bed. I set my hands firmly down on the bed, and ran it all through the sheets, smoothing out any creases. I stepped back, admiring my work. As perfect as I could make it. My eyes drifted through the rest of the room. The binders containing the rules and regulations of the Galactus were dusted, color-coded, and tucked safely away. I looked at my table and found my computer all folded up and plugged into the charging port. My lamp was turned on and was illuminati...

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“Such a Fool” by Mary Burns

Submitted to Contest #82

She stood in the shed still holding the shovel, sweating, trembling and out of breath, looking at the pile of rubble that now littered the floor. She tried to calm herself but couldn’t. Although she had planned this moment and knew it had to happen, her mind still raced. Quickly, she put down the shovel, pivoted around exiting the shed. She locked it and ran into the house. She ran upstairs and grabbed the suitcase that was in her closet. As she packed, she thought of all that had happened over the past seven months and berated hers...

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“Catastrophic Loss” by Ryan Bush

Submitted to Contest #82

I stomped snow off my boots as I stepped inside the opulent mansion. The blast of heat instantly fogged my glasses in contrast with the raging blizzard outside. Officer Dale Benson waved me over from the living room. “Detective Tanner, glad you could get here so fast,” he said. “How’s the weather out there?” “Terrible. But my blubber keeps me warm.” I patted my thick middle and ...

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“And I set you free” by Taylor Zimmet

Submitted to Contest #82

I wake up to the sun shining on my face. It's unusual since I usually stay in bed until the very last minute before getting ready for work. I don't think I've ever woken before my alarm before, and it's nice not feeling so rushed. It is almost relaxing that I can lie in my comfy, cozy bed for a bit longer before my alarm goes off. A memory of a younger myself pops up into my head. When I was a kid, my mom would walk into my room several times each morning to get me up for school. The frustration in her voice as she is trying to stir me...

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“We are Thomas” by Jennifer Prater

Submitted to Contest #82

“Did it come in?” “No it will be here tomorrow?” Thomas had finally given in and bought the new RT99. It was basically a smartwatch phone health meter all in one. “Dude you’re going to love it, I lost five pounds thanks to this and it tells me what my cholesterol is. I’m fit as a fiddle thanks to this little thing. Also look-” Will spoke a command and a small hologram of a dog dancing with a tiny tophat on emitted from the device. “It can literally do anything,” Will spoke excitedly. “I know, you’ve said, for what it cost it better h...

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“Lights, Camera, Action” by Szymon Kutchin

Submitted to Contest #82

In the beginning, it was nice. There was less energy loss in the city. The lights sensed when someone was near and would brighten the path around people, then dim them after the person had left. One would think that this would increase crime since they thought that the lights would dim after someone was in the same place for an extended period. However, the sensors on the lights detected a person’s shape, movements, no matter how small, and also communicated with other lights to provide enough information on a person’s movements. They also w...

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“Wanted” by Alanah Andrews

Submitted to Contest #82

Incoming call: Thomas Tait. Catelyn groaned with exasperation as she lugged three bags of groceries up the stairs towards her small apartment. Blinking firmly, she accepted the call from her ex. “Is Ethan okay?” There was an audible sigh through her iSIGHT earbuds. “Hello to you too, Catelyn. Yes, Ethan’s fine.” Catelyn glanced in the top corner of her vision to check the time. “Well it’s nearly five—” “That’s what I’m calling about,” said Thomas. “The time got away from me. We’re halfway through a film—” “Thomas,” said Catelyn, firmly...

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“Home Improvement” by David Van Uffelen

Submitted to Contest #82

REBOOTING Lucas, your typical computer programmer/nerd, looked at the blinking lights of the central controller and waited anxiously for the system to reboot. He had spent the last two years building his own home automation system and today was going to be the day everything would be connected to Ellie. He had used his own initials – Lucas Elliot – as inspiration for the name of the A.I. that would control everything. But the name of the system was the least of his concerns at the moment. From the moment the A.I. would c...

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“Deep Breath” by Jimmy Bowes

Submitted to Contest #82

Tyler placed his briefcase in the decontaminating closet along with his coat, and snapped the closet door shut before he punched the large red button for the sani spray shower.“Kah- chunk!”He heard the exhaust doors in the HVAC slam into place and the fan began to whir. This had been the routine to returning home for ten years at least. Tyler quickly moved his hands up and down his torso and legs, front and back, to make sure there was no loose material. He couldn’t help but giggle inside a little every time he watch his tie float upwar...

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Write a near-future thriller where a piece of everyday technology has turned against your character — and only your character.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 130 stories

“The Decision Is Yours” by Sylvia Lucas

“Mary Ellen” by Nakul Smaran Ranjith

“Such a Fool” by Mary Burns

“Catastrophic Loss” by Ryan Bush

“And I set you free” by Taylor Zimmet

“We are Thomas” by Jennifer Prater

“Lights, Camera, Action” by Szymon Kutchin

“Wanted” by Alanah Andrews

“Home Improvement” by David Van Uffelen

“Deep Breath” by Jimmy Bowes

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about a technophobe who’s been given a device to solve a problem they’ve struggled with for years, but isn't sure how they feel about it.

Your character has just realized the app they’ve been developing has become self-aware. How do they react?

Write a historical fiction story about someone working at a company that helped revolutionize early computers.

Write about an android just trying to blend in with their human companions.

Contest #82

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

537

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: